Circle 'Yes' or 'No'
November 2013
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39
"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." Ephesians 1:6
We can all remember the notes we passed to our friends when we were younger. Up until about the fourth grade, boys and girls didn't want to have anything to do with each other. But in the fifth or sixth grade, things started to change and everyone began to write little notes, saying "I like you. Do you like me? Circle: Yes, No, Maybe." People were in their own little way looking for "love" (puppy love), but really deep down looking for acceptance from someone they liked. While typing this I can't help but laugh because I can remember writing myself a note and pretending like it was from someone, because no one ever wrote me a note! lol! "Raven, I like you. Do you like me? Circle: Yes, No, Maybe." I had all of my little classmates in elementary school wondering who in the world sent Raven that!! (I was something else! All I can say now is. "Girlfriend, have several seats!") But as I thought about this, I realized that we have the best note that's ever been written. God wrote us a note called the Bible, and in it He said, "Yes, I like you." He went a step further and wrote, "Yes, you are loved. Yes, you are forgiven. Yes, you are a child of God and a joint heir with Christ. Yes, you're my friend. Yes, I am for you. Yes, I am your Heavenly Father. Yes, you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Yes, you are royalty....because YOU are a child of the King!"
Now we can approach the throne of God with confidence! Why? Because Jesus said, "Yes, you're free from sin. Yes, you're free from guilt. Yes, you're free from hurt. Yes, you're free from any abuse that's ever been done to you!" You can live free because where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom and it was for freedom that Christ set you free!
Jesus Christ is the "yes" written in our hearts. God has sent us a great love note. And He said in this love note, "I will never leave you or forsake you (Heb. 13:5). I love you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). And guess what friend, these two scriptures are just a piece of His love note to us!
Friend, know that you don't have to walk through life alone. God has accepted you. It doesn't matter where you are-----you could be by yourself in the middle of the desert, but you are not alone! Today, just remember this: Jesus is "Yes!" Yes, He loves you. Yes, He cares about you. If you start feeling hurt or rejected, remember that Jesus is with you. He hasn't forgotten or forsaken you, and He never will! He's putting His arm around you and saying, "Come on, let's go. I have already overcome the world! Take heart and rest in my love! I have a divine plan for you that is rooted in My faithfulness, guaranteed by My eternal Word and undergirded by all of the riches of My glory!"
Be encouraged and remember that Jesus circled "yes" when He died on the cross and rose again conquering death, hell, and the grave! YOU ARE LOVED!!
"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." Ephesians 1:6
We can all remember the notes we passed to our friends when we were younger. Up until about the fourth grade, boys and girls didn't want to have anything to do with each other. But in the fifth or sixth grade, things started to change and everyone began to write little notes, saying "I like you. Do you like me? Circle: Yes, No, Maybe." People were in their own little way looking for "love" (puppy love), but really deep down looking for acceptance from someone they liked. While typing this I can't help but laugh because I can remember writing myself a note and pretending like it was from someone, because no one ever wrote me a note! lol! "Raven, I like you. Do you like me? Circle: Yes, No, Maybe." I had all of my little classmates in elementary school wondering who in the world sent Raven that!! (I was something else! All I can say now is. "Girlfriend, have several seats!") But as I thought about this, I realized that we have the best note that's ever been written. God wrote us a note called the Bible, and in it He said, "Yes, I like you." He went a step further and wrote, "Yes, you are loved. Yes, you are forgiven. Yes, you are a child of God and a joint heir with Christ. Yes, you're my friend. Yes, I am for you. Yes, I am your Heavenly Father. Yes, you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Yes, you are royalty....because YOU are a child of the King!"
Now we can approach the throne of God with confidence! Why? Because Jesus said, "Yes, you're free from sin. Yes, you're free from guilt. Yes, you're free from hurt. Yes, you're free from any abuse that's ever been done to you!" You can live free because where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom and it was for freedom that Christ set you free!
Jesus Christ is the "yes" written in our hearts. God has sent us a great love note. And He said in this love note, "I will never leave you or forsake you (Heb. 13:5). I love you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). And guess what friend, these two scriptures are just a piece of His love note to us!
Friend, know that you don't have to walk through life alone. God has accepted you. It doesn't matter where you are-----you could be by yourself in the middle of the desert, but you are not alone! Today, just remember this: Jesus is "Yes!" Yes, He loves you. Yes, He cares about you. If you start feeling hurt or rejected, remember that Jesus is with you. He hasn't forgotten or forsaken you, and He never will! He's putting His arm around you and saying, "Come on, let's go. I have already overcome the world! Take heart and rest in my love! I have a divine plan for you that is rooted in My faithfulness, guaranteed by My eternal Word and undergirded by all of the riches of My glory!"
Be encouraged and remember that Jesus circled "yes" when He died on the cross and rose again conquering death, hell, and the grave! YOU ARE LOVED!!